Russian prime minister considers August war common tragedy

Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin considers the August 2008 war a common tragedy. This statement was made at a press conference on March 15 by the leader of the Democratic Movement - United Georgia, Nino Burjanadze, who recently visited Moscow and met with Russia's Prime Minister.

Burjanadze said that she met not only with Putin, but also with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his deputy Grigory Karasin and Head of the State Duma Sergei Mironov. She stressed that the Russian official circles have readiness to solve all problems, including the most painful, through negotiations.

"For me it was a surprise the statement by the representatives of Russia's leadership that if there is goodwill, a willingness to negotiate in equitable and mutually respectful format, then there is no problem, including the most painful, that were not subject to debate," said the former speaker of parliament.

According to Burjanadze, unlike the Georgian president, who declares himself the winner of the August war, Russia's Prime Minister does not speak of the victory in August 2008, moreover, Putin has said the war was "a common tragedy of Russia and Georgia."